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3Lowell Council on Aging2012Motor Coach TripsCall 978-670-1169/1176 for more information. All of our trips need to be paid in full one month before the traveldate. The Lowell Senior Center can not refund your money (unless we cancel). Please note when inclement weatherhappens, it is up to the jurisdiction of the coach company to cancel. COA will not cancel without coach company approval. Have Fun and Travel Safe! All Ages over 18 years old Welcome!March 29- April 1 Thursday – Sunday Washington DC Cherry Blossom special. Staying at five star rated EmbassySweets Hotel. 5 meals: 3 Breakfasts & 2 Dinners. Cost 449.00pp dbl 599.00 pp single. See flier for more informationMay 15-17 Penn Dutch Country Cost 419.00pp dbl 479.00pp single Best of Times proudly presents Penn Dutchcountry featuring the new show “Jonah”. Set sail on an exhilarating journey with one of the bible’s most colorful prophets – Jonah! Featuring breathtaking effects including a multifaceted tall ship that breaks apart right before your eyes!This musical intertwines Powerful Themes of love, mercy, obedience and second chances. Price includes two nightslodging and four meals. See flier for more informationMay 14- 31 Monday- Thursday, 18 Day Circle USA by Rail Cost 3199.00 dbl. including a roomette 4059.00 Single Tour Features 18 day rail pass with roomettes, 2 nights in Chicago 2 nights White fish, 2 nights Seattle,1 night NewOrleans, 2 nights San Francisco, 2 Nights Los Angeles & San Francisco. Hop on Hop off Pass, Italian Dinner Chicago,Daily Breakfast, Dinner and Show at Tommy Guns Garage.1 bag per person, New Orleans tour, Admission and Tramtour, Chicago Botanical Gardens ,Chicago City Tour, Field Museum or Shed Aquarium, All train to hotel transfers PassSeattle, Seafood Feast at the Crab Pot , All meals while on the train Muir Woods and Sausalito trip , Los Angles CityTour. For more information see flyers at LCOAMay 20-22 Trump Taj Mahal 169. pp Dbl. 239 Sgl Please see flyer or contact Kathy for more information.April 10, Tuesday, 1:-00 to 4:00 pm at LCOA – Linnea Starr 20.00Roger’s 5.00 Trips (MUST be 60 or older)Bus leaves @ 9:15 am from the Senior Center. If you arrive prior to 8:00AM on date of ticket sales, please make sure to sign yourname on the numbered list on Tara’s door. Tara will arrive at 8:00AM and remove it from the door, she will give you your numberand distributed them in the order you signed-in at your arrival. All first day ticket sales on 2nd floor in the Library at 9:30 until10:30AM — After 10:30AM see the receptionist. SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. INCLEMENT WEATHER: IFLOWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED, THE TRIP IS CANCELLED . Bus is Handicapped Accessible.March tickets on sale for February 29thMarch 2, Friday - Grand Buffet & Christmas TreeMarch 6, Tuesday – Old Salt Restaurant & Tom’s DiscountMarch 15, Thursday – Super Walmart Amherst & Giorgio’sMarch 20, Tuesday – Hill Top & Christmas Tree ShopMarch 26, Hungry Traveler Restaurant & ShoppingApril tickets on sale for March 30thApril 2, Monday - Vanity Fair Outlets & 99 RestaurantApril 5, Thursday - Patriots’ MallApril 13, Friday – Quincy MarketApril 19, Thursday - Hungry Traveler & Toms Discount HouseApril 23, Monday – Super Wal Mart Amherst Nashua MallApril 26, Thursday – Grand Buffet & Christmas Tree ShopLimit (4) four tickets per person per trip! NO employee or volunteer of the Senior Center is able to purchase tickets on behalf ofa Senior Center member. If you arrive prior to 8 AM on date of ticket sales, please make sure to sign your name on the numberedlist on Tara’s door. Tara will arrive at 8 AM and give you your number & the list will be removed from the door & numbers will bedistributed upon your arrival.AARP Income Tax PreparationWe will prepare your taxes until April 12, 2012 with a special emphasis on seniors with low to middle income. Wednesday andThursday, 9am to noon. Call for an appointment.When you come to have your taxes done, please bring copies ofyour 2010 tax returns (Fed and State) and all of the followingforms / info for 2011 which pertain to you:W-2 and 1099-MISC forms showing earned incomeSecurity benefits received in 2011. This is NOT the form mailed toyou in Decembertitled: Your Benefit Amount (for 2012).1099-B forms showing sale of stocks. If you have sold stocks,you must bring information on the purchase date and cost.1099-DIV forms showing dividendsW2-G form showing gambling winningsSSA-1099 form (mailed to you in January 2012) showing Social1099-G forms showing unemployment compensation or stateincome tax refund1099-INT forms showing interest

4Lowell Council on Aging(Continued from Front Page) the Quilting Quarterly has progressedto a glossy full-color publication.The NQA has always considered its first responsibility to be serviceto its members. Thus, many programs have been established overthe years to aid the membership. The NQA has certification programs for quilt teachers and judges. A Master's Guild has been established to recognize outstanding quilting achievement. A Grantand Scholarship program was implemented to give monetary assistance to individuals or groups studying or researching the field ofquiltmaking. The Education Program has many offerings for continuing education in the quilt world.From the original seven founders of NQA, we now have a membership of about 5500 in the U.S. and abroad, with over 200 activechapters in 33 states. The annual shows average 400 entries with asteadily growing attendance exceeding 9000. From small beginnings, the NQA continues to grow and change to reflect the interests of its membership.Celebrating Irish-American Heritage MonthPublic awareness of “Irish-AmericanHeritage Month” remains obscure.Forty-four million Americans proudlyshare their Irish ancestry, especially incelebrating St. Patrick’s Day with parades, family gatherings, Masses,dances, etc. The American Foundation for Irish Heritage wants to havethe same national recognition as other ethnic cultural celebrations,such as; National African American History/Black History Month,National Hispanic Heritage Month, Asia/Pacific American HeritageMonth. This same national celebration and recognition can andwill only happen with all Irish Americans taking action to succeedin that goal by appropriately commemorating our heritage, historyand culture. Irish Americans have done so much to shape and formvirtually all areas of life in the United States throughout our coun-2012try’s great history. We must act now and speak up in order to beheard. Please come for a biography on Saint Patrick with Doctor Joe Downes (FCOA BOD) on March 15th at 11:00 am.History of Greek Independence DayIn 1821, Greeks vigorouslyrose up against the oppressive Ottoman Empirewhich had occupied Greecefor nearly four hundredyears, embarking on theultimately successful warof independence. BishopGermanos of Patras boldlyraised the Greek flag at the monastery of Agia Lavras, inciting thePeloponnese to rise against the oppressors. While the exact dateprobably was not March 25th, it did occur in late March and it wasgradually associated with the religious feast of the Annunciation.Begin your family tree by gathering together everything you have-- papers, photos, documents and family heirlooms. Rummagethrough your attic or basement, the filing cabinet, the back of thecloset. Thencheck with yourrelatives to see ifthey have any family documents theyare willing to share.Clues to your family history might befound on the backs of old photographs, in the family bible, or evenon a postcard. If your relative is uneasy with lending an original,offer to have copies made. There will be a free family tree computer class in the COA computer Lab on Thursday March, 8that 1:00 pm with Susan from Pollard Memorial Library.to thank volunteer and Council on Aging Board member, JohnLawlor for his continued work of updating and installing the images scene on the telecommunication board. I also want to thankI hope all of you have endured a safe and happy winter season thus the City of Lowell MIS department staff for their continuous hardwork provided to the senior center on the upgrades and installationfar. Mother Nature has been very good to us this winter season.of the telecommunication board, electronic equipment and COAEven though us New Englanders can usually handle whateverweather comes our way it has been very nice coming outdoors to a computers. Thank you all! We could not do it without all of yoursnow free environment, vehicles, sidewalks and streets. It is hard assistance, which is much appreciated.The Lowell Senior center is seeking gently used medical equipto believe we will be welcoming spring on March 20 th.ment to be utilized by seniors in the community. We are lookingI would like to thank Lowell’s local and very talented artist, JanetLambert Moore for sharing her beautiful, creative art work with the for donations of handicapped bed rails, commodes, tub benches,wheel-chairs and canes. The senior center has a program availableCity of Lowell. An illustration of Lowell’s City Hall, during afor seniors to borrow equipment as needed. There is no charge forwintery scenic snowfall was enjoyed by our readers. This picturethis service. Please contact the center or drop donated equipmentwas shown on the cover of last month’s newsletter and has received many lovely compliments. The actual multi-colored crea- to 276 Broadway St., Lowell, MA. Thank you.tion by Lowell’s own generous creator can be seen on the center’s The City of Lowell will be taking part again this year in the Massathstelectronic bulletin board located in the senior center great hall. It is chusetts 5 Annual White Ribbon Day on Thurs., March 1 at 12a beautifully created with falling snowflakes and shows a very real- noon at City Hall. This event will be held in the first floor lobby ofCity Hall-375 Merrimack St, Lowell, MA. The public is invited.istic winter scene. Please take a few moments to view the elecThe White Ribbon event is a day of recognition of thousands oftronic bulletin board. It runs continually throughout the day andshows pictures of the centers programs and activities, fliers on up- men across Massachusetts standing up and being counted as allies(continue on page 10)coming events, weather and other community news. I would like against violence towards women.Dear Readers,

5Lowell Council on AgingVolunteer Nurse’s Schedulefor Blood Pressure & WeightCommonwealth Nursing1st & 4th Tuesday from 10 am to 12 pmLowell Visiting Nurse Association2nd Tuesday at 8:00 to 10:00 am3rd Tuesday at 10:00 am to 12:30 pmLowell Community Health CenterEvery Wednesday 9:30 amWingate of Belvederewith Debbie Donovan3rd Friday at 10:00 amGenesis Health CareLAST Monday of each month 10 to 11:30 amThe UMASS Lowell PT students are going to do a thumb measurement project here on March 6th @ 12 noon.The UMass Lowell Physical Therapy graduate program requiresthat all students are involved in a research project. The objective ofour particular research project is to collect normative values forpassive range of motion (ROM) at the Carpometacarpal (CMC)joint of the thumb. The CMC joint of the thumb is a highly functional joint, which predisposes the joint to the development of arthritis. Our study aims to use the information we collect regardingnormative values to assist clinicians in diagnosing functional impairments that some patient's may have at this particular joint. Weare also looking at the relationship between ROM at this joint andage. We are hoping to collect measurements from a minimum of20 subjects from the over-65 age group, and are very hopeful thatthe senior center will be able to provide us with willing participants!The actual procedure for taking measurements is very simple. Thesubject will need to be sitting with his or her forearm and hand resting on a table or other flat surface, and the tester will begin takingthree measurements in each of the three motions to be measured. The three motions we are measuring are flexion, extension,and abduction at the CMC joint of the thumb. The entire procedureshould take no longer than 10 minutes per participant, and shouldbe completely pain-free.Each participant will also be asked to sign an Informed Consentand Health Questionnaire. Participation is limited to those withoutany known joint impairments such as arthritis in the thumb of his orher dominant hand. However, there is no risk to those who dochoose to participate, and of course, participation is greatly appreciated and will help us immensely.RetireeandSurvivorsNew health benefits effective July 1, 2012.If you wish to be enrolled in health insurance, you must apply forcoverage during the GIC open enrollment period of Monday, April9 – Monday, May 7, 2012.Your contribution ratio will be 25% for all GIC health plans.When you enroll in a GIC health plan, you will need to provideGIC required documents along with your enrollment application(s).Please begin gathering the documentation required for health cov-2012erage. A listing of required documents that must accompany yourGIC application is enclosed. Your failure to provide this documentation with your application will cause the GIC to reject your application. If you are planning to cover yourself only there is no documentation needed unless you are a retiree or survivor age 65 orover. If you are planning to cover a current and/or former spouseand or children, you will need to provide documents.If you are age 65 or over or disabled and are eligible for MedicarePart A for free and not enrolled, you MUST enroll in Medicare PartA and Part B during the federal government’s open enrollment period of January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012. Please contactyour local Social Security office during this time to determinewhether you are eligible for Medicare Part A for free. If you are,you must enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B during the openenrollment period. If you incur a late enrollment penalty, the Cityof Lowell will pay for this penalty as long as you continue to payyour Part B premium and you are enrolled in a GIC Medicare Supplemental plan. A GIC informational seminar will be held onMar 8th @ 12:30 at the Lowell Senior Center.A health fair will take place on Monday April 23, 2012, from11:00AM – 5:00PM at the Tsongas Arena, 300 Martin LutherKing Way, Lowell, MA 01852.If you have any questions contact the City of Lowell Human Relations Office @ 978-674-4105 or via e-mail to southworth@lowellma.gov.Friday, March 9th @ 9 am – Veteran’s Breakfast Speaker –Senior Helper’s, Take the mystery out of home care. Lori Kalinoskia social worker from Senior Helpers will be here to give you information and answer any question you may have. Sometimes we justneed a little help to stay in our homes, let us take out the mystery ofbring good help into your home.Choral Group is looking for an Organist for 2 hours a week onMondays. (this a non-paying volunteer position. This groupvisits area nursing homes to entertain homebound seniors.Broadway Street Rite-Aid will have Shingle vaccinations available. Must have 20 people pre-registered with Tara, Please sign upbefore schedule. Shot will be administered end o March. We willcall you with details. Billable towards insurance.The Lowell Senior center has a “Call Reassurance” program forseniors available weekly. If you are homebound and live alone orknow someone who does and you would like to receive a weeklytelephone call, made by one of our friendly staff, please contactCharlotte or Eileen at (978) 674-1166. Calls are made on Wednesdays and Fridays in the am hours, between 9 am – 12:00 noon.This service provides a well-being check and offers a friendly conversation. It also provides a chance to ask questions regardingavailable programming at the Council on Aging-Senior Center.Please call and sign up if you are interested.Christopher Streeter Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist MALic.#H547 / NH Lic. #198-Will be available for hearing aid cleanings and minor repairs. On Mar 8th, 9AM –11Am— Walk-insare welcome, but appointments are preferred. Contact Tara @978-674-1171— Located in the 2nd floor (Nurse’s Station)

6Lowell Council on Aging2012LOWELL SENIOR CENTERSENIOR CENTER SERVICESMain Number: 978-674-1172Administrative Offices: 978-674-1177Fax: 978-970-4134These are the new numbers for LCOAExecutive DirectorMichelle Ramalho 978-674-1170mramalho@lowellma.govJoan BedfordEleanor BelangerJoyce DastouAndrew HostetlerJohn R. LawlorSidney LiangReceptionistTara Donnelly 978-674-1171tdonnelly@lowellma.govVincenzo MillinazzoEvents / Trips CoordinatorKathy Carroll 978-674-1169kcarroll@lowellma.govWilliam Sheehan, ChairmanSandra Breen 978-674-1176sbreen@lowellma.govOutreach CoordinatorAmy (Medina) Leal 978-674-1167aleal@lowellma.govVolunteer CoordinatorAudrey McMahon 978-674-1166amcmahon@lowell.ma.govMinority Outreach CoordinatorLinda Hin 978-674-1169Lhin@lowellma.govOutreach VolunteersJohn R. Lawlor 978-674-1174Jlawlor@lowellma.govDeanna Rabidoux 978-674-1168dlrabidoux@lowellma.govTuesdays & Fridays10AM to 11AMBOARD OF DIRECTORSS H I N E (Serving HealthInsurance Needs for Elders)Joan Gong 978-674-1172Call for an appointmentThursdays ONLY- 10 AM to 1 PMLegal Services Assistance & Referrals978-458-1465To make a Wednesday appointment, callTara at 978-674-1172Suellen O’NeillThe next meeting will beMarch 12th at9:00 AM in the BoardroomThe public is invited !Hours of Operation:Monday through Friday6:00 am to 4:00 pmLunch served at 11:30 amSunday through SaturdaySaturday and SundayCoffee & Pastries and Lunch ONLYOPEN 7:00 am until NOONFree Transportation to Center7 days a week EXCEPT holidays.Call before 9:00 am for a free ride toand from the center. The bus leavesafter lunch to bring you home.Friends of the Lowell Council on AgingOffice hours vary — Call for appointment978-674-1172City of Lowell Veterans ServicesDirector / AgentEric Lamarche 978-674-1595Head ClerkCarmen Felix govOffice Hours: 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 PM. — Monday - Friday2nd Floor of the Senior Center in the administrative office area

7Lowell Council on AgingFRIENDS OF THELOWELL COUNCILON AGING CENTER, INC.BOARD OF DIRECTORSPRESIDENTDr. Joseph M. Downes Jr.VICE PRESIDENTRita M. MercierTREASURERJacqueline DenisonSECRETARYClaire BrodeurDIRECTORSJoseph DussaultLenny GendronLorraine MellenRay A. RoadesArthur ToupinWeb: www. lowellma.govNext meeting: Friday,March 23rd at 9:30 amThe Friends are a fundraisinggroup for the Lowell Council onAging. The non-profit organizationsupplements the operating cost ofthe LCOA Bingo in addition topurchases of many various typesof supplies, equipment, furnishings and kitchen items. They alsovolunteer for many projects.Many events, parties and activities are also sponsored by theFriends including the food, entertainment and raffle prizes. TheFriends raise money through numerous raffles, calendar tickets,and sponsored events. Anyone 21or older who wishes to be amember may do so at anytimewith a 5.00 yearly donation. SeeTara in the reception office.10 Tips on “What ToDo If You Are In A CarCrash.”11.) Get Help - Call 911 ifanyone is hurt. Medicalcare within the first hourafter an injury is critical.2.) Notify the Police - If anyone is injured, or ifthere is significant property damage, you can notjust exchange names and phone numbers with theother driver and leave the scene. Call the police!An official police report should be taken at thescene! In minor crashes with no injuries, it may bepossible to exchange information and submit yourown crash reports without a police report. But, ifyou have any doubt about possible injuries or theextent of the damage, notify the police and let theresponding officer make the decision!3.) Get Crucial Information - Always have a penand paper in the glove box. Ask the other operatorfor their license and registration. Contact information from the other driver such as their name, current address, date of birth, license number and telephone number will be needed. Also, note the color,make, model, license plate number and InsuranceCompany name from their registration. If the otherdriver “doesn’t have” or “can’t find” their licenseor registration, Call the police! They may be unlicensed or unregistered! A police officer can helpyou get all this information, and may have a formfor you to exchange with the other driver(s) involved.4.) Identify Witnesses - Get the names and contact information of anyone who saw the accident.If you can, do this quickly. Often, people who sawthe collision will stop for a short time, but leavebefore the police arrive. Other motorists, passengers or pedestrians can be critical witnesses. Gettheir name and phone number.5.) Do Not Discuss Fault - Don’t get in to an argument and blame the other driver even if theywere clearly at fault. But, if the other driver admitsit was their fault, make a note of it. Jot down precisely what you remember them saying. "Fault" isoften a complex determination based on the factsand complicated laws. Leave that issue for the2012police to decide.6.) Write a Note to Yourself Afterward - Afterthe accident, write a note to yourself (and possiblyfor your attorney, if you later need one). Includeall the information you have gathered and can remember while it is fresh in your mind. Explainhow the accident happened as best you can. Drawing a sketch or diagram of the collision will be ahelpful memory aid later on. It may be months, oreven years, before the insurance companies fullyresolve any claims.7.) Call Your Insurance Agent - All insurancepolicies require you to notify your insurance company after a crash. Unnecessary delay in tellingyour insurance company about the crash couldresult in a denial of your claim.8.) File Necessary State Crash Reports - In Massachusetts, if anyone is injured or there is significant property damage to the vehicles, you must fileyour own copies of the crash report in addition tothe report taken by the police officer.A Crash Report Form can be obtained online fromthe Registry of Motor Vehicles at www.mass.gov/rmv/forms/accident.htmor they can usually be obtained at local police departments. The form must be completed and filedwithin 5 days after the accident. Copies should besent to: the local police department where thecrash occurred, your insurance company, andto the Registry of Motor Vehicles.99.) Take a Picture if You Can - “A picture isworth a thousand words.” Today most of us havecameras built into our cell phones.

Security benefits received in 2011. This is NOT the form mailed to you in December titled: Your Benefit Amount (for 2012). 1099-B forms showing sale of stocks. If you have sold stocks, you must bring information on the purchase date and cost. 1099-DIV forms showing dividends 1099-INT forms showing interest